Weekly Update 8-23- through 8-30-09

Last week, at this point is almost a blur. I’m tired, I can’t think straight and I’m having computer problems, so…instead of giving last week it’s own page full of posts, I’m going to cover the basics, only add a couple of photos then move onto this week.

The highlight of last week was being able to go with Duck on his business trip to Redmond, which is just North of Bend. The kids and I got to go shopping, play at the hotel and eat fabulously at Applebees while Duck worked! The next day, Friday Duck finished work early so we took the kids miniature golfing. We don’t have miniature golf here, so for Kyson and Jayden it was a new adventure! They loved it though.

girl with funky socks when we were shopping, I HAD to take a picture....you don't see this every day

Kiddo's being silly in the HOtel room. They LOVE staying at hotels.

This golf Course had some really pretty scenery. I had fun experimenting with my camera.

We stopped at this Reindeer Farm called Operation Santa Clause.

Then while kids’ napped, we drove down to Collier Park, just about 30 minutes from home, and camped. Initially that was the plan anyway, to go camping, but then Duck remembered about helping with the Redmond store inventory. Collier is very pretty and it was a nice camping area. There were a million chipmonks that became the highlight of the kids’ camping experience since they were eating out of their hands!

The worse part about camping was the bee attack! I took the kids on a little walk while Duck was working on Dinner when a bee started to disturb me. I swatted at it and it few behind me getting into my hair. When it finally flew away from me I saw it go behind Maliyah then she screamed it bit my bum! I yelled at Duck to come help since at that point there was another one around me and Savannah who was in my belly in the baby carrier. Duck tried swatting it out for me and it stung me on the chest, luckily not Savannah, then Jayden screams and there is one on his arm stinging him! At that point Duck had had it, grabbed Jayden and said to the other kids run! After that all was good (minus the un-eaten dinner due to so many bees trying to devour it as well). But I had never been stung in my life and that thing hurt me through the night! Even two days later at church the area was sensitive. Luckily it didn’t bother Jayden or Maliyah much at all. Yay…fun adventures!

Baby Girls first time camping!

We were able to make it home, do our Saturday business, clean up from Camping and get a sitter so Duck and I could go on a date! I left Savannah with the sitter for the first time! Although she pretty much just slept the whole time.

Sunday I tried a new recipe for a chicken marinade and it turned out awesome! I’m so excited to use it again, I’m tempted to keep a mix of the seasonings pre made to make it easier. If you want the recipe go to my sister-in-laws recipe blog here. I also have loved lately grilled shrimp, just a little garlic salt and they are fabulous! We have also been eating fresh pears up the wazoo since I got about 36 pounds from the Pear Farm in Medford. They are so fresh, and sweet and juice I eat 2-3 a day! I also am posting a recipe for a pear cranberry salad I have been making lately that is too good too. It makes me want to have these fresh pears all year long! I also tried a pear cobbler that proved to be irresistible. The greatest part too was that it was made in the crock pot!

We made Rice Crispy treats. The boys vs. the girls. Duh, the girls won.

My Baby Blue Eyes

So she still is young, eye color can still change, but in the mean time we are loving the blue eyes she has! And no I didn't add any color to this picture, just took out color

Week update 8-31 through 9-6-09

This week has been SO busy. I know I say that always, but I guess if you were to say every week is busy, then this week would be my busier than normal week? I don’t make sense, I’m tired and really I have so much more things I need to move on to than blogging, so with out any more adieu here were some of our activities this week!

Last Day hanging out before Maliyah starts school.

Picnicing it in the front yard

What a couple of goofballs!

Maliyah’s First Day of Schoool!

Feeling confident and proud!

No tackle it Tuesday this week, more like tackle the backpack! Take something plain and black and turn it into something beautiful!

Ky wishing he was joining her

Boys Partying while Maliyah is workin' hard!

Already making friends.

Yay, she's happy to see me!

Happy as can be!

Savannah's One month pictures

More of Jade

Finally posting a few more from Jayden's 21 month Photo shoot!

Golly I love this kid!

Update week 8-16 through 8-23-09

Welcome to the blog. I feel like that’s all it is ‘the blog’. But I try to convince myself that’s it’s our story, the window for you all to take a peek into our life and in a small way be a part of my childrens growing up! I hope for those of you that frequent ‘the blog’ feel that it has facilitated that!


***I almost forgot! Some people somehow missed Savannah's Birth post...the one with all the details! So if you have a few minutes (cause it's long!) and you want the dirty details (okay not too dirty) then click this link:

http://theoregonducks.blogspot.com/2009/08/happy-birthday-savannah-and-duck.html

This is is the page it was posted on....just after her birth arrival post:

http://theoregonducks.blogspot.com/2009_08_02_archive.html

We had a super busy week. I am trying to fill our time with summer kids worthy activities before Maliyah goes off to school. We made a list, plugged that list of activities into the calendar and have tried to stick with it. One activity at least a day. It’s made for business, and craziness because I have been a little behind on other things, but at the end of the day I’m SO happy that I did something for my kids.

Monday we had Savannah's 2 week appointment. She was 8 pounds, way over her birthweight so apparently she is eating good! Maiyah also had to get her kindergarten shots...6 of them! It was awful....especially because she did so good! I had warned her that she could cry, but had to hold still and she did great! All the kids did really good, behaving well, so we went out for lunch and ICE CREAM! That night for Family Home Evening we went to the park. It had been awhile since we have done that all as a family so it was really fun. The weather was great, a little breezy and it turned out to be a really nice evening. I also was able to come home and go on some walks with the kids, taking turns in the stroller.

Tuesday we headed out to the park again, not for the playground though. This time we went swimming! We had a couple of friends meet us there which of course made it really fun. I forgot my camera, but my friend Heather had hers so when I get those pictures from her, I’ll post them for sure! Tuesday night was Kyson’s preschool open house. I have been excited for him to do preschool, but we were going to do the Tue Thurs classes which unfortunately didn’t get enough sign-ups and probably won’t happen. Her MWF classes are full too, so mostly likely we’ll have to go with something else. But it did get Kyson excited about the idea of going to school.

Wednesday ws a SUPER busy day. That morning was the elementary schools registration. I swapped kids with a friend which made it really special to be able to take Maliyah all on her own. We got her registered, walked around the school, checked out the bathroom and library and even got to see the kindergarten rooms! She is soooo excited and although I’m having a hard time with it, I know she will absolutely be fine and love it to death!

Our activity for Wednesday was to make Pajama pants and matching blankets for the kiddos. They had previously picked out their own fabrics and we were ready to go! My friend that watched the boys wanted to learn how to make them so I had her come over to join us. It was truly a party, including her 7 children, 2 she was babysitting, and my 4. Yes, that’s 13 kids playing around my house while we sewed. They actually did really good, and we got the pants done. I then let Ky and Maliayh skip their naps to help finish their pants and blankets. I have failed to take any pictures, but like always I eventually will and will post them later!

Wednesday isn’t done though. That evening we took Maliyah out, just her and Mom and Dad to look for a backpack and go out to dinner. She loves those moments and opportunities so it was fun to see her excited and happy!

That’s pretty much our week. Busy, fun, exciting, emotional, stressful, exhausting…..need I say more. That’s our life. BUT! Good news. We have kept Svannah’s crib in the living room all week and apparently that did the trick. WE did a 6 hour night, then a 5 ½ hour night, then a 7 ½ hour night, then it just continued that way all week! Keep our fingers crossed it stays that way and pray that I can make a habit of going to bed when she does so I get that much sleep!

I LOVE being a mom. I LOVE my children, I LOVE my husband and I wouldn’t trade my life for anything else. I might trade my house with a smaller one with less work (JK), but I want you all to know, as crazy and busy and wacko life can get, I know who watches over us, I know that HE loves and cares for me and won’t give me more than I can handle so I am going to continue to love my family and my life and have faith that I can DO it! Even when the bishop does call my husband to a crazy calling at horrible time in our life!